THE COURIER / Travis Simpson
Russellville junior guard Shelby Gray presses through the Parkview defense on her way to the basket. Moments later, the defender collided with Gray and both tumbled to the ground.

Parkview (7-1, 3-0) made short work of Russellville (3-11, 0-3) and thundered through Cyclone Gymnasium to spoil Lady Colors Day. The Lady Cyclones only scored two points throughout the first quarter – with only one second left, when Alyssa Owens went to the free-throw line.

Meanwhile, the Lady Patriots wracked up 18 points, mostly on the shoulders of star player Roshanda Johnson, who scored Parkview’s first six points herself.

Russellville head coach Steve Wiedower knew the Lady Cyclones would have their hands full during Colors Day, even admitting that the victory may not be the results on the scoreboard, but rather the learning experience of playing such a talented team.

“I felt like we did have those victories in some areas,” Wiedower said. “But in other areas we did not. We still had a lot of turnovers. That was one of our goals. We didn’t reach our goal in the first half, but in the second half we did. The pressure was a little different in the second half than it was in the first half, but they still put a lot on us.

“I think when you’re having to look for success in areas other than the scoreboard, you have to look at different things like that. That’s something we’re going to have to keep working on at get better.”

Kenzie Wiedower sparked the Lady Cyclones midway through the second period with a pair of free-throws, a jumper and two 3-pointers to bring the score to 24-12. She led Russellville in scoring (12 points) by the end of the night. Jocelyn Brown added a layup, but by the time the buzzer sounded the Lady Patriots had widened their lead to 36-14.

Russellville was frustrated, but coach Wiedower thought the girls handled the adversity well.

“I think they were getting frustrated because of the way they played,” he said. “And because of the way Parkview played against us. They wore us down a little well. I think the girls handled that extremely well. And I think, as a freshman, Alyssa handled that extremely well. That’s going to be some good experience for her.”

Parkview picked up where it left off in the third, driving the score up to 41-14, before Wiedower tossed in layup to stagger the Lady Patriots scoring spree. Russellville’s scoring ended there, however, and by the time the quarter was over, Parkview led 54-16.

Owens scored a pair of free throws near the end of the third quarter and Nichole Phillips put in a jumper. The Lady Patriots went to their bench and kept wearing down the Lady Cyclones from executing on offense.

“During the conference season, you have to take it one game at a time. Our next opponent is (at) Fort Smith Southside (on Tuesday),” Wiedower said after the game. “They may be a different style than the three teams we just played, but they’re an excellent team.

“The girls have got to prepare for another team and get ready for whatever Southside brings at them. That’s the same thing you do if you’ve got a winning ballgame. You put the last game behind you.”